There are cricketers who become famous overnight and others whose careers are built through years of domestic cricket. Baba Aparajith belongs firmly to the second group. He first caught national attention as an India Under-19 World Cup winner in 2012, then spent more than a decade establishing himself as a dependable domestic all-rounder. In 2025, his move to Kerala gave his career another chapter, capped by a memorable 126 against Rajasthan in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Born on July 8, 1994, in Chennai, Aparajith is a right-handed batter and right-arm off-break bowler. As of 2026, he is 32 years old. His career has included Tamil Nadu cricket, India Under-19, India A-related squads, the IPL environment with Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Supergiant, TNPL cricket and, more recently, Kerala.
Quick Summary
- Full name: Baba Aparajith
- Born: July 8, 1994
- Age in 2026: 32
- Birthplace: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Role: Batting all-rounder
- Batting: Right-handed
- Bowling: Right-arm off break
- Major early achievement: Member of India’s 2012 Under-19 World Cup-winning team
- Domestic teams: Tamil Nadu and Kerala, among others
- IPL association: Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Supergiant
- IPL appearances: No IPL match appearances
- Major 2025 performance: 126 off 116 balls against Rajasthan in the Vijay Hazare Trophy
- Twin brother: Baba Indrajith
- Current career identity: Experienced Indian domestic all-rounder
Who Is Baba Aparajith?
Baba Aparajith is an Indian domestic cricketer best known for his all-round ability. He combines right-handed batting with right-arm off-spin, giving his teams an option who can contribute in both disciplines.
That versatility became evident early. During India’s successful 2012 Under-19 World Cup campaign, Aparajith scored 171 runs in six matches and also took five wickets. He was particularly influential in the knockout stages. The BCCI recorded his tournament average at 28.50 with the bat and an economy rate of 3.59 with the ball.
His semifinal against New Zealand remains one of the defining performances of his youth career. Aparajith scored 44 and then returned figures of 1/29 from 10 overs as India defended 209 to win by nine runs. He was named Player of the Match.
India subsequently defeated Australia in the final, with Aparajith contributing 33 from 38 balls. He finished the tournament as one of India’s notable contributors and returned home with a World Cup winners’ medal.
Baba Aparajith Age, Early Life and Family
When was Baba Aparajith born?
Baba Aparajith was born on July 8, 1994, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He turned 32 in July 2026. His cricketing development began remarkably early, alongside his twin brother, Baba Indrajith.
The two brothers started playing cricket together as children. A 2012 report from The New Indian Express noted that the twins began playing cricket at around four years old and progressed through Tamil Nadu’s age-group system together.
Their story is unusual because both brothers eventually became professional cricketers, but their careers took different paths. Aparajith became known initially as the more prominent all-rounder after his Under-19 World Cup success, while Indrajith later developed into a highly regarded top-order batter for Tamil Nadu.
Their relationship has remained a recurring theme in their careers. In an interview, Aparajith spoke positively about his brother’s cricket and the way the two helped each other improve.
The family has also been closely connected to cricket. Their father, Dr. R. N. Baba, has been involved with Tamil Nadu cricket, and reports have described how closely he followed both sons’ development.
Education and cricket
Aparajith did not abandon education while pursuing cricket. In a 2017 interview, he discussed studying Marketing Management at Guru Nanak College in Chennai while balancing state and national-level cricket commitments.
That balance is revealing of his early career. Even after becoming a high-profile Under-19 player, he still had to manage the less glamorous side of domestic cricket: training, travel, studies and the constant competition for selection.
Baba Aparajith’s Rise From Tamil Nadu Cricket to the National Spotlight
The 2012 Under-19 World Cup was the turning point.
Aparajith was already regarded as a promising Tamil Nadu all-rounder, but performances on the international youth stage gave him national recognition. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball made him especially valuable to the Indian team.
The semifinal against New Zealand was arguably his most memorable tournament performance. His 44 with the bat was followed by a controlled spell of off-spin, helping India secure a narrow nine-run victory. The ICC named him Player of the Match.
He was also involved in India’s successful final against Australia. His 33-run contribution helped India build momentum before Unmukt Chand’s unbeaten century sealed the title.
For a teenager, the path looked promising.
The next challenge was considerably harder: translating youth success into senior domestic cricket.
Aparajith did exactly that over the following years, becoming an important player for Tamil Nadu across formats. His first-class career eventually included a double century for South Zone against West Zone in the 2013 Duleep Trophy, a major indication that his batting had the substance to succeed at the senior level.
His domestic numbers underline that longevity. Available career records list him with more than 4,600 first-class runs and more than 3,800 List A runs, alongside useful wicket-taking numbers in both formats.
One of his strongest Ranji Trophy seasons came in 2017-18, when he led Tamil Nadu’s run charts with 417 runs in four matches.
Baba Aparajith IPL Journey: CSK, Rising Pune and What Happened?
The IPL chapter of Aparajith’s career is fascinating precisely because it never became a conventional IPL playing career.
After his impressive Under-19 World Cup campaign, Chennai Super Kings signed the young all-rounder. He was only 18 when he entered the IPL environment, placing him alongside established international stars and giving him an opportunity to learn from a high-level dressing room.
Aparajith remained associated with CSK for several seasons but did not make an IPL appearance.
That distinction matters. Being part of an IPL squad and playing an IPL match are two different things, and Aparajith’s career is a good example of how competitive the league’s selection process can be.
He later became associated with Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017. He was part of the franchise’s squad but again did not make the playing XI in the IPL. His name appeared among the team’s reserves during the 2017 season, including the final against Mumbai Indians.
Rather than viewing the experience simply as a disappointment, Aparajith has described the IPL years as valuable learning periods. He said being around experienced players and observing how they prepared helped him improve when he returned to domestic and TNPL cricket.
That is perhaps the most useful way to understand his IPL journey. The league did not provide him with a long playing career, but it exposed him to a professional environment that influenced his development.
Baba Aparajith Career Stats and Playing Style
Aparajith’s value has never been based solely on one discipline.
As a right-handed batter, he has generally been capable of occupying the crease for long periods while also accelerating when the situation demands it. His off-spin adds another layer to his role, particularly in longer formats and List A cricket.
Available career records list the following broad figures:
| Format | Matches | Runs | Batting Average | Hundreds | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-class | 96 | 4,697 | 38.18 | 11 | 66 |
| List A | 107 | 3,869 | 42.98 | 7 | 71 |
| T20 | 63 | 1,147 | 27.30 | 0 | 17 |
These figures reflect career records available in 2026 and can change as his playing career continues.
His first-class top score is listed as 212, while his List A career-best is 137. His bowling has also produced useful returns, including a first-class best of 5/86.
The numbers show why he has remained relevant in domestic cricket. He is not merely a batter who bowls occasionally. Nor is he a specialist spinner who can contribute with the bat. His strongest identity has always been that of a genuine batting all-rounder.
Baba Aparajith’s Kerala Move and the 2025 Vijay Hazare Masterclass
One of the biggest changes in Aparajith’s recent career came when he moved from Tamil Nadu to Kerala for domestic cricket.
The move gave him a fresh environment after more than a decade associated with Tamil Nadu cricket. By late 2025, he was already producing the sort of performances Kerala would have wanted from an experienced all-rounder.
The standout moment came on December 31, 2025, against Rajasthan in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at Gujarat College Ground in Ahmedabad.
Rajasthan posted a formidable 343/7 in 50 overs, with Karan Lamba making an unbeaten 119. Kerala’s chase appeared to require a substantial batting effort, and Aparajith delivered exactly that.
He scored 126 from 116 balls, striking 12 fours and four sixes. His strike rate was 108.62.
That innings was not simply about reaching three figures. Aparajith provided the central platform for a chase that eventually went down to the final over. Krishna Prasad added 53, while Eden Apple Tom produced a remarkable unbeaten 40 from only 18 balls, including five sixes. Kerala reached 348/8 in 50 overs and won by two wickets.
Aparajith was named Player of the Match.
For a player whose career has been defined by perseverance, the performance carried extra significance. It showed that even after moving into his early thirties, he remained capable of producing a major innings in high-pressure domestic cricket.
What Makes Baba Aparajith’s Career Stand Out?
Aparajith’s career is not the straightforward story of a young star becoming an international regular. It is more complicated—and arguably more interesting.
He won a major youth World Cup, entered an IPL squad as a teenager, built a substantial domestic career, experienced the frustrations of being selected without getting onto the field, moved states and continued producing performances.
There is also an interesting contrast between his early reputation and his later career.
At 18, much of the attention centred on what he might become. At 32, the evidence is different. His first-class and List A numbers show what he actually became: a durable domestic cricketer who has contributed across formats and teams.
His all-round profile has helped him remain useful because domestic cricket often rewards players who can influence a match in more than one way.
His 2025 Vijay Hazare performance against Rajasthan is a perfect example. He contributed the defining batting performance, while his off-spin also remained part of Kerala’s wider bowling resources.
For younger cricketers, there is a lesson here. A career does not always progress in a straight line from Under-19 success to international cricket. Sometimes the route is longer: domestic cricket, setbacks, new teams, new roles and another opportunity to prove yourself.
Baba Aparajith Records and Major Achievements
Some of the most notable milestones from Aparajith’s career include:
- 2012: Member of India’s ICC Under-19 World Cup-winning team.
- 2012: Player of the Match in India’s Under-19 World Cup semifinal against New Zealand after scoring 44 and taking 1/29.
- 2013: Scored his first first-class double century for South Zone in the Duleep Trophy.
- 2017-18: Finished as Tamil Nadu’s leading Ranji Trophy run-scorer with 417 runs in four matches.
- 2022: Became one of the notable Tamil Nadu domestic leaders, including captaining the side in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
- 2025: Moved into a new domestic chapter with Kerala.
- December 2025: Scored 126 off 116 against Rajasthan in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and was named Player of the Match.
His career-best List A score is listed as 137, while his first-class highest score is 212.
Frequently Asked Questions About Baba Aparajith
How old is Baba Aparajith in 2026?
Baba Aparajith is 32 years old in 2026. He was born on July 8, 1994, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Is Baba Aparajith an all-rounder?
Yes. Aparajith is a right-handed batting all-rounder who bowls right-arm off-break. His first-class and List A records include substantial contributions with both bat and ball.
Did Baba Aparajith play in the IPL?
Aparajith was part of IPL squads, notably Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Supergiant, but he did not make an IPL playing appearance. He has spoken about how the experience of being around established players helped his development.
Who is Baba Aparajith’s twin brother?
His twin brother is Baba Indrajith, another professional Indian cricketer from Tamil Nadu. The brothers began playing cricket together as children and went on to build separate domestic careers.
Conclusion
Baba Aparajith’s career is a reminder that cricket success cannot always be measured by international caps or IPL appearances. From starring in India’s 2012 Under-19 World Cup campaign to becoming a long-serving domestic all-rounder and later making an impact for Kerala, he has built a career through persistence.
His 126 against Rajasthan in the 2025 Vijay Hazare Trophy offered a particularly strong snapshot of the player he has become: experienced, adaptable and still capable of deciding major domestic matches. For Aparajith, the next chapter is less about proving that he belongs and more about seeing how much more he can contribute.